Bluffton, in 15 years, should be the key municipality in the Lowcountry, town officials said Friday in a strategic planning session.

Town Councilman Ted Huffman said Bluffton will be the “nexus” of the region in 2027.

“Bluffton will be the economic engine of this region,” predicted Councilman Mike Raymond.

“If we don’t do it, nobody else is going to do it. Beaufort is not going to do it. Hilton Head is not going to do it. Hardeeville has a chance, but they’re probably not going to do it,” he said. “But we’re the ones to do it.”

Raymond called for economic development beyond tourism, saying Bluffton should not become “the queen of festivals.”

The vision of the town as a base for technology businesses is already under way with the new Don Ryan Center for Innovation, said Mayor Lisa Sulka.

“It’s a public-private partnership. People talk about it all the time, but nobody does it,” Sulka said. “It took a leap of faith, but we made it. It’s what we have to do to get things done in this economy.”

The technology innovation business model “will be duplicated across the region,” the mayor said.

“In 2027 you’ll see businesses coming to us instead of us reaching out to businesses,” Sulka said.

“The vision is there and the infrastructure is in place,” said Marc Orlando, the town’s growth management director.

“We just need some help from the economy,” Huffman added.

“You’ve very well positioned to capture economic development. It may take some investment or some risk to make happen,” said consultant Lyle Sumac, who led the town’s annual meeting to set goals and objectives.

Sumac told council members and town staff that the economy is improving, but not fast.

“I’m seeing a slow recovery, with ‘slow’ being the operative word,” he said. Municipalities will continue to “do more with less.”

Sumac predicted higher bids from fewer bidders for government services; private businesses hiring public employees; and requests for public-private partnerships.

Financially, “if towns are going to grow they must be self-sufficient,” Sumac said. “Grants are going away. Outside funding sources are going away.”